Published May 29, 2026, 10:06 AM EDT
Traci George refers to herself as a Gold Star spouse. Others say she's been "lying" for a decade.
A Georgia woman vying for a chance to represent constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives is being accused of using her false designation as a Gold Star spouse on the campaign trail. Traci George, a Democratic candidate in Georgia's 12 Congressional District, is headed to a runoff election Tuesday, June 16, against fellow Democrat Ceretta Smith. In the party’s primary, Smith received 32.62% of the vote, or 17,430 votes, while George received 27.22%, or 14,545 votes. Both are vying for a chance to run against Republican Rep. Rick Allen, an incumbent first elected in 2014, to represent cities including Augusta and Statesboro in the congressional district. But ahead of the Democratic runoff, George’s claims of being a Gold Star spouse are being put under the spotlight. It’s due to her openly admitting that she had divorced her husband, U.S. Army veteran Chadrick George, roughly four months before he died of a reported medical emergency in 2017 at the age of 37. His obituary doesn't mention Traci George, though it mentions their three children.
Pictured is Traci George, a Democratic candidate in Georgia's 12 Congressional District. As she campaigns for a June 16 runoff election, her past claims of being a Gold Star spouse have reignited. (Traci George campaign video)
